Subprime Lending Resumes
Subprime lending to buy used vehicles is recovering slightly from 2008's 16% but still only 18% now when it was 67% in 2007. With 45% of consumers having impaired credit, it is essential for dealers to find a way to do business with them. Many more loans are now dependent on down payments and co-signers.
Hybrid Vehicles Don
Consumers have started to migrate back away from hybrids and small cars to SUVs and pickups as fuel prices have dropped and stayed relatively low. Hybrid prices have dropped with the decreased demand. Increased fuel taxes for 2011 and beyond promise to make current cheap gasoline temporary.
Networked Cars Talking to Each Other Could Reduce Crashes by 2012
Seven hundred field trials in Australia, US and Italy have demonstrated the potential for cars equipped with Wi-Fi to talk to each other via urban roadside hot spots to reduce collisions. The same technology could reduce traffic jams saving fuel and cutting emissions.
2010 Prius Adds Mileage, Technology
The new 2010 Prius boasts 49 mpg highway and 50 mpg city, according to EPA testing. That's the highest retail mileage available in the U.S. The key challenges for the new Prius will be the economy and the Honda Insight.
Sentience Demos Fuel Savings on Hybrid Integrated to Advance Mapping Data via Internet Phone
The Sentience project in the UK has tied a hybrid vehicle into advanced GPS map data through an Internet link on a mobile phone. Optimum battery charging and use coupled with calculated optimum acceleration and deceleration achieved 5-24% fuel savings along with the associated reduction in CO2.
